System and Apparatus for Managing Calls

ABSTRACT

A system and apparatus for managing calls to voice mail is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a voicemail system having a controller element that receives a call redirected away from a targeted communication device without providing the targeted communication device notice of the call responsive to a voicemail redirection request supplied by signaling information associated with the call. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/696,538 filed Apr. 4, 2007, which is incorporated herein by referencein its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to communication systems, andmore specifically to a system and apparatus for managing calls.

BACKGROUND

Individuals often desire to communicate with another party without liveinteraction. Emails have provided such communications but access toemail is not always available. Voicemail can provide a non-interactiveservice when the called party does not answer a call. However, thecaller is not ensured that the called party will not answer the call.

A need therefore arises for a system and apparatus for managing calls.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a communication system;

FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary block diagram of one of several embodimentsfor a communication device operating in the communication system;

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary method operating in portions of thecommunication system; and

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a machine inthe form of a computer system within which a set of instructions, whenexecuted, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure provide a systemand apparatus for managing calls.

In a first embodiment of the present disclosure, a computer-readablestorage medium can have computer instructions for detecting a calldirected to a communication device according to signaling informationcomprising an identifier (ID) of the communication device and avoicemail redirection request; and redirecting the call to a voicemailsystem responsive to the voicemail redirection request withouttransmitting a notice of the call to the communication device.

In a second embodiment of the present disclosure, a voicemail system canhave a controller element that receives a call redirected away from atargeted communication device without providing the targetedcommunication device notice of the call responsive to a voicemailredirection request supplied by signaling information associated withthe call.

In a third embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication device,can have a controller element that initiates a call with signalinginformation including an identifier of a targeted communication deviceand a voicemail redirection request that requests redirection of thecall to a voicemail system without notice supplied to the targetedcommunication device.

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a communication device 116communicating by way of wired and wireless access points (WAPs) withother communication devices and/or a network proxy or management system122 which collectively operate in a communication system 100. Thecommunication device 116 can be a multimode VoIP terminal. However, thepresent disclosure contemplates the use of other types of communicationdevices, including other types of voice, video and data devices. Thecommunication system 100 can comprise a packet-switched network 105. Thepacket-switched network can be an Internet Service Provider (ISP)network 105. The network 105 can be coupled to the network proxy 122,the cellular network 113 and network elements located in one or more ofthe buildings 112 representing an enterprise or residence. The ISPnetwork 105 utilizes technology for transporting Internet traffic.

In an enterprise setting, the building 112 can include a gateway 114that provides voice and/or video connectivity services betweencommunication devices 116, such as VoIP terminals or other forms ofcommunication devices of enterprise personnel. In a residential setting,the building 112 can include a gateway 114 represented by, for example,a residential gateway coupled to central office 106 utilizingconventional telephonic switching for processing calls with thirdparties.

The network proxy 122 can be used to control operations of a mediagateway 109, the central office 106 and the gateway 114. Communicationsbetween the network proxy 122, the communication devices 116 and othernetwork elements of the communication system 100 can conform to anynumber of signaling protocols such as a session initiation protocol(SIP), SS7, or a video communications protocol such as H.323 whichcombines video and voice over a packet-switched network.

The network proxy 122 can comprise a communications interface 124 thatutilizes common technology for communicating over an IP interface withthe network 105, the media gateway 109, the cellular network 113, and/orthe gateway 114. By way of the communications interface 124, the networkproxy 122 can direct by common means any of the foregoing networkelements to establish packet switched data, voice, and/or videoconnections between communication devices 116 distributed throughout thecommunication system 100. The network proxy 122 can further comprise amemory 126 (such as a high capacity storage medium) embodied in thisillustration as a database, and a controller 128 that makes use ofcomputing technology such as a desktop computer, or scalable server forcontrolling operations of the network proxy 122. The network proxy 122can operate as an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) conforming in part toprotocols defined by standards bodies such as 3GPP (Third GenerationPartnership Protocol).

Under the control of the network proxy 122, the media gateway 109 canlink packet-switched and circuit-switched technologies such as thecellular network 113 (or central office 106) and the network 105, suchas an ISP network. The media gateway 109 can conform to a media gatewaycontrol protocol (MGCP) also known as H.248 defined by work groups inthe Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). This protocol can handlesignaling and session management needed during a multimedia conference.The protocol defines a means of communication which converts data fromthe format required for a circuit-switched network to that required fora packet-switched network. MGCP can therefore be used to set up,maintain, and terminate calls between multiple disparate networkelements of the communication system 100. The media gateway 109 cantherefore support hybrid communication environments for communicationdevices 116, including VoIP terminals.

The central office 106 can house common network switching equipment fordistributing local and long-distance telecommunication services suppliedby network 105 to buildings 112 (such as dwellings or commercialenterprises) telecommunication services of the central office 106 caninclude traditional POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) and broadbandservices such as HDTV, DSL, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), IPTV(Internet Protocol Television), Internet services, and so on. Thecommunication system 100 can utilize common computing and communicationstechnologies to support circuit-switched and/or packet-switchedcommunications.

The cellular network 113 can support voice and data services over anumber of access technologies such as GSM-GPRS, EDGE, CDMA-1X, UMTS,WiMAX, software defined radio (SDR), and other known and futuretechnologies. The cellular network 113 can be coupled to base stations127 under a frequency-reuse plan for communicating over-the-air withroaming VoIP terminals 116.

Controller 128 of the network proxy 122 can include a message processingsystem or sub-system which can be utilized to direct calls to a commonvoicemail system 123 to record by common means callback messages. Themessage processing system can redirect calls to the voicemail system 123when it detects a calling party is unable to or does not desire tocommunicate directly with a called party. The callback message suppliedby a calling party to the voicemail system 123 can represent a caller IDretrieved from a call initiated by the calling party over thecommunication network 100 utilizing common means, and/or a voicemailmessage supplied thereby.

The voicemail system 123 can include technology such as found in aninteractive voice response system (IVR) for interacting with the callingand called parties utilizing voice and keyed input signals (e.g., DTMFtones), and for processing a callback message supplied by the callingparty according to a particular call flow design. The voicemail system123 can support subscribers who are interested in storing callbackmessages such as a recorded voice message. The message processing systemof the network proxy 122 can be provisioned to interact cooperativelywith the voicemail system 123 to enhance processing of callbackmessages. The present disclosure contemplates the voicemail system 123being a separate control system or systems in communication with thenetwork proxy 122.

FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the communication device 116.The communication device 116 can comprise a wired and/or wirelesstransceiver 202, a user interface (UI) 204, a power supply 214, and acontroller 206 for managing operations thereof. In an embodiment wherethe communication device 116 operates in a landline environment, thetransceiver 202 utilizes common wireline access technology to supportPOTS or VoIP services.

In a wireless communications setting, the transceiver 202 can utilizecommon technologies to support singly or in combination any number ofwireless access technologies including without limitation cordless phonetechnology (e.g., DECT), Bluetooth™, Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), WorldwideInteroperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), Ultra Wide Band (UWB),software defined radio (SDR), and cellular access technologies such asCDMA-1X, W-CDMA/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE, and EVDO. SDR can beutilized for accessing a public or private communication spectrumaccording to any number of communication protocols that can bedynamically downloaded over-the-air to the communication device 116. Itshould be noted also that next generation wireless access technologiescan be applied to the present disclosure.

The UI 204 can include a keypad 208 with depressible or touch sensitivenavigation disk and keys for manipulating operations of thecommunication device 116. The UI 204 can further include a display 210such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) for conveyingimages to the end user of the communication device 116, and an audiosystem 212 that utilizes common audio technology for conveying andintercepting audible signals of the end user.

The power supply 214 can utilize common power management technologiessuch as replaceable batteries, supply regulation technologies, andcharging system technologies for supplying energy to the components ofthe communication device 116 and to facilitate portable applications. Instationary applications, the power supply 214 can be modified so as toextract energy from a common wall outlet and thereby supply DC power tothe components of the communication device 116. The controller 206 canutilize computing technologies such as a microprocessor and/or digitalsignal processor (DSP) with associated storage memory such a Flash, ROM,RAM, SRAM, DRAM or other like technologies for controlling operations ofthe aforementioned components of the communication device 116.

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary method 300 operating in portions of thecommunication system 100. Method 300 has variants as depicted by thedashed lines. It would be apparent to an artisan with ordinary skill inthe art that other embodiments not depicted in FIG. 3 are possiblewithout departing from the scope of the claims described below.

Method 300 begins with step 302 where a calling party initiates a callto the communication device 116 of a called party which can be detectedby the network proxy 122. The calling party can utilize a communicationdevice similar or different to the called party (e.g., a cell phone,PSTN phone, VoIP phone, etc.) to initiate the call. The call can bedetected by the network proxy 122 by analyzing signaling informationsuch as SIP or SS7 associated with the detected call. In one embodiment,signaling information can comprise an ID (e.g., an E.164 number, SIPURI, Tel URI, etc.) of the communication device 116 which can also bedetected by the network proxy 122, as in step 303. In step 304, thenetwork proxy 122 can determine whether the call includes a request forredirection to a voicemail system associated with the communicationdevice 116 of the called party. For illustration purposes the voicemailsystem of the called party is assumed to be the voicemail system 123.

With this in mind, if the call includes a redirection request, then instep 306 the network proxy 122 redirects the call to the voicemailsystem 123 without transmitting a notice of the call to thecommunication device 116 of the called party. Hence, the called partydoes not hear a common alert signal such as a loud ring, melody or otherform of alert generated by the communication device 116 of the calledparty since the called party's communication device does not receivesignaling information from the communication system 100 associated withthe call initiated by the calling party. A voicemail redirection requesttherefore provides the calling party a feature to avoid contact with thecalled party if recording a message by way of the voicemail system 123is satisfactory to the calling party. If on the other hand the networkproxy 122 detects in step 304 that the call does not include theredirection request, then the network proxy proceeds to step 308 whereit directs one or more network elements of the communication system 100to transmit the notice of the call to the communication device 116 bycommon means.

In one embodiment, the network proxy 122 can be programmed to determinewhether a voicemail account exists for the communication device 116 thatis being called, as in step 310. The determination of the existence ofthe voicemail account can be based upon the ID of the communicationdevice 116 or other suitable information associated with said device. Ifa voicemail account does exist for the communication device 116, thenaccess can be provided by the network proxy 122 to the voicemail system123 without transmitting a notice of the call to the communicationdevice 116 as previously described in step 306. If the communicationdevice 116 does not have a voicemail account, then notice of the lack ofa voicemail account, e.g., an error message, can be provided by thenetwork proxy 122 to the calling party when a redirection request isdetected, as in step 312. The particular type of notice transmitted bythe network proxy 122 can depend upon the caller's communication device,and can include an auto-connection with an audio message or a textmessage to indicate the lack of a voicemail account. In one embodiment,the error message can include an option for re-dialing the communicationdevice 116.

As noted earlier, the detection of the call to, and/or the ID of, thecommunication device 116 can be based on processing of signalinginformation that conforms to a session internet protocol (SIP) or SS7,as in step 314. Accordingly the call can be a PSTN or VoIP calloperating in an IMS communications architecture. SIP or SS7 signalinginformation can be utilized to identify the ID of the communicationdevice 116 being targeted and the voicemail redirection request. In oneembodiment, the call can be processed by the network proxy 122 as asequence of dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signals corresponding tothe ID of the communication device 116 and the voicemail redirectionrequest, as in step 316.

The voicemail redirection request can comprise a code entered at thecaller's communication device, as in step 318. For example, anasterisk/numerical code can be used by a caller to indicate a voicemailredirection request. The caller can for instance dial “222-333-4444” toidentify the called party immediately followed by dialing “*2” to signala voicemail redirection request. A redirection number to access thevoicemail system 122 can be determined by the network proxy 122 from theID of the communication device 116, as in step 320. For example, thenumber 222-333-4444 can be used as an index to a database of the networkproxy 122 to determine a contact number for the voicemail system 123(e.g., 222-333-4545). With this technique, the call can be redirected bythe network proxy 122 to the voicemail system 123 using the redirectionnumber.

The voicemail redirection request can also comprise a voicemail accountID, as in step 322. The voicemail account ID can be used by the networkproxy 122 for selecting the corresponding voicemail account in thevoicemail system 123. For example, the caller can dial “222-333-4444” toidentify the called party immediately followed by dialing “*2” to signala voicemail redirection request for voicemail account number 2.Alternatively, the network proxy 122 can transmit the voicemail accountID to the voicemail system 123 which selects the voicemail account forthe calling party. The voicemail account ID can be utilized forproviding the caller with access to a select voicemail account of thecalled party. The voicemail account IDs can be stored in database 126for processing by controller 128 of the network proxy 122.

The voicemail system 122 can include an interactive voice response (IVR)system, as in step 324. The IVR system can utilize common voicerecognition techniques that support a call flow for processing messagesaccording to feedback supplied by the calling party (e.g., DTMF tones,voice responses, or other forms of electronic response entry).

From the foregoing descriptions, it would be evident to an artisan withordinary skill in the art that the aforementioned embodiments can bemodified, reduced, or enhanced without departing from the scope andspirit of the claims described below. For example, the voicemail system122 and the network proxy 123 can be an integrated system as opposed toindependently operated systems. Additionally, the voicemail system 122can transmit a voicemail notice to the communication device 116 of thecalled party immediately after the caller has recorded a message. Saidvoicemail notice can indicate to the called party whether voicemailmessage is the result of a redirection request or a missed call. Theseare but a few examples of the modifications that can be applied to thepresent disclosure without departing from the scope of the claims.Accordingly, the reader is directed to the claims for a fullerunderstanding of the breadth and scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a machine inthe form of a computer system 400 within which a set of instructions,when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed above. In some embodiments, the machine operatesas a standalone device. In some embodiments, the machine may beconnected (e.g., using a network) to other machines. In a networkeddeployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or aclient user machine in server-client user network environment, or as apeer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment.

The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, apersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a laptop computer, a desktopcomputer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge, or anymachine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential orotherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will beunderstood that a device of the present disclosure includes broadly anyelectronic device that provides voice, video or data communication.Further, while a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shallalso be taken to include any collection of machines that individually orjointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform anyone or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

The computer system 400 may include a processor 402 (e.g., a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU, or both), a mainmemory 404 and a static memory 406, which communicate with each othervia a bus 408. The computer system 400 may further include a videodisplay unit 410 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, asolid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system400 may include an input device 412 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor controldevice 414 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 416, a signal generationdevice 418 (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a network interfacedevice 420.

The disk drive unit 416 may include a machine-readable medium 422 onwhich is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software 424)embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions describedherein, including those methods illustrated above. The instructions 424may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the mainmemory 404, the static memory 406, and/or within the processor 402during execution thereof by the computer system 400. The main memory 404and the processor 402 also may constitute machine-readable media.

Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to,application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement themethods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatusand systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety ofelectronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions intwo or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices withrelated control and data signals communicated between and through themodules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit.Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, andhardware implementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein are intended for operation as software programsrunning on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementationscan include, but not limited to, distributed processing orcomponent/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtualmachine processing can also be constructed to implement the methodsdescribed herein.

The present disclosure contemplates a machine readable medium containinginstructions 424, or that which receives and executes instructions 424from a propagated signal so that a device connected to a networkenvironment 426 can send or receive voice, video or data, and tocommunicate over the network 426 using the instructions 424. Theinstructions 424 may further be transmitted or received over a network426 via the network interface device 420.

While the machine-readable medium 422 is shown in an example embodimentto be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should betaken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralizedor distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) thatstore the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readablemedium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable ofstoring, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by themachine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies of the present disclosure.

The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken toinclude, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such as a memorycard or other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile)memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile)memories; magneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk or tape; andcarrier wave signals such as a signal embodying computer instructions ina transmission medium; and/or a digital file attachment to e-mail orother self-contained information archive or set of archives isconsidered a distribution medium equivalent to a tangible storagemedium. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one ormore of a machine-readable medium or a distribution medium, as listedherein and including art-recognized equivalents and successor media, inwhich the software implementations herein are stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsimplemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standardsand protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards andprotocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switchednetwork transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) representexamples of the state of the art. Such standards are periodicallysuperseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentiallythe same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards and protocolshaving the same functions are considered equivalents.

The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments,and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all theelements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use ofthe structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparentto those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Otherembodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structuraland logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing fromthe scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representationaland may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may beexaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, thespecification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative ratherthan a restrictive sense.

Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred toherein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merelyfor convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope ofthis application to any single invention or inventive concept if morethan one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments havebeen illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that anyarrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substitutedfor the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to coverany and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the above description.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R.§1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quicklyascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted withthe understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit thescope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing DetailedDescription, it can be seen that various features are grouped togetherin a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure.This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting anintention that the claimed embodiments require more features than areexpressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claimsreflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of asingle disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are herebyincorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing onits own as a separately claimed subject matter.

What is claimed is:
 1. A non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium, comprising computer instructions which when executed by aprocessor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:detecting a call directed to a communication device according tosignaling information comprising an identifier of the communicationdevice and a voicemail redirection request, wherein the call isinitiated by a caller's communication device, and wherein the voicemailredirection request comprises a code entered at the caller'scommunication device along with the identifier; determining whether avoicemail account is available for the communication device according tothe redirection request; redirecting the call to a voicemail systemresponsive to determining that the voicemail account is available,wherein the call is redirected to the voicemail system withouttransmitting a notice of the call to the communication device, whereinthe voicemail redirection request comprises a voicemail accountidentifier for selectively identifying one among a plurality ofvoicemail accounts in the voicemail system; transmitting a voicemailnotice to the communication device of the called party responsive torecording a voicemail message wherein the voicemail notice indicateswhether the voicemail message is a result of a redirection request or amissed call; and preventing redirection of the call to the voicemailsystem and transmitting an error message from a network proxy to thecaller's communication device responsive to determining that thevoicemail account is not available and when the voicemail redirectionrequest is detected, wherein the error message includes an option forre-dialing the communication device, wherein the signaling informationconforms to a session initiation protocol, and wherein the identifier ofthe communication device comprises one of a session initiation protocoluniform resource identifier, a telephone uniform resource identifier, oran E.164 number.
 2. The non-transitory computer-readable storage mediumof claim 1, comprising computer instructions which when executed by theprocessor causes the processor to perform operations comprisingdetermining according to the identifier of the communication device aredirection number to access the voicemail system.
 3. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 2, comprising computerinstructions which when executed by the processor causes the processorto perform operations comprising redirecting the call to the redirectionnumber.
 4. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim1, comprising computer instructions which when executed by the processorcauses the processor to perform operations comprising detecting asequence of dual tone multi-frequency signals corresponding to theidentifier of the communication device and the voicemail redirectionrequest.
 5. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim1, wherein the redirecting comprises redirecting the call to thevoicemail account and recording in the voicemail account a voicemailmessage supplied by the caller's communication device responsive todetermining that the voicemail account is available.
 6. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein thevoicemail redirection request comprises a voicemail account identifierfor selectively identifying one among a plurality of voicemail accountsin the voicemail system.
 7. The non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium of claim 1, comprising computer instructions which when executedby the processor causes the processor to perform operations comprisingpresenting an interactive voicemail service at the caller'scommunication device.
 8. The non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium of claim 1, wherein the voicemail system comprises an interactivevoice response system.
 9. A voicemail system, comprising: a memorycomprising computer instructions; and a controller element coupled tothe memory, wherein the controller when executing the computerinstructions performs operations comprising: receiving a call redirectedaway from a targeted communication device without providing the targetedcommunication device notice of the call responsive to a voicemailredirection request supplied by signaling information associated withthe call, wherein the call is initiated by a caller's communicationdevice, wherein the voicemail redirection request comprises a codeentered at the caller's communication device in addition to anidentifier of the targeted communication device, and wherein the call isredirected to the controller element responsive to a detection of thecode; determining whether a voicemail account is available for thecommunication device wherein the voicemail redirection request comprisesa voicemail account identifier for selectively identifying one among aplurality of voicemail accounts in the voicemail system; transmitting avoicemail notice to the communication device of the called partyresponsive to recording a voicemail message wherein the voicemail noticeindicates whether the voicemail message is a result of a redirectionrequest or a missed call; and preventing redirection of the call to thevoicemail account and transmitting an error message to the caller'scommunication device responsive to determining that the voicemailaccount is not available and when the voicemail redirection request isdetected, wherein the error message includes an option for re-dialingthe communication device, wherein the signaling information conforms toa session initiation protocol, and wherein the identifier of thetargeted communication device comprises one of a session initiationprotocol uniform resource identifier, a telephone uniform resourceidentifier, or an E.164 number.
 10. The voicemail system of claim 9,wherein the controller element when executing the computer instructionsperforms operations comprising determining according to the identifierof the communication device a redirection number to access the voicemailsystem.
 11. The voicemail system of claim 10, wherein the controllerelement when executing the computer instructions performs operationscomprising redirecting the call to the redirection number.
 12. Thevoicemail system of claim 9, wherein the controller element whenexecuting the computer instructions performs operations comprisingdetecting a sequence of dual tone multi-frequency signals correspondingto the identifier of the communication device and the voicemailredirection request.
 13. The voicemail system of claim 9, wherein theredirecting comprises redirecting the call to the voicemail account andrecording in the voicemail account a voicemail message supplied by thecaller's communication device responsive to determining that thevoicemail account is available.
 14. The voicemail system of claim 9,wherein the voicemail redirection request comprises a voicemail accountidentifier for selectively identifying one among a plurality ofvoicemail accounts in the voicemail system.
 15. The voicemail system ofclaim 9, wherein the controller element when executing the computerinstructions performs operations comprising presenting an interactivevoicemail service at the caller's communication device.
 16. Thevoicemail system of claim 9, wherein the voicemail system comprises aninteractive voice response system.
 17. A communication device,comprising: a memory comprising computer instructions; and a controllerelement coupled to the memory, wherein the controller element whenexecuting the computer instructions performs operations comprising:initiating a call comprising signaling information comprising anidentifier of a targeted communication device and a voicemailredirection request that requests redirection of the call to a voicemailsystem without a notice supplied to the targeted communication devicewherein the voicemail redirection request comprises a voicemail accountidentifier for selectively identifying one among a plurality ofvoicemail accounts in the voicemail system and wherein a voicemailnotice to the targeted communication device is transmitted responsive torecording a voicemail message wherein the voicemail notice indicateswhether the voicemail message is a result of a redirection request or amissed call; and receiving an error message preventing redirection ofthe call to the voicemail system in response to the voicemail systemfailing to detect an availability of a voicemail account associated withthe identifier of the targeted communication device when the redirectionrequest is detected by entering a code, wherein the error messageincludes an option for re-dialing the communication device, wherein thesignaling information conforms to a session initiation protocol andwherein the identifier of the targeted communication device comprisesone of a session initiation protocol uniform resource identifier, atelephone uniform resource identifier, or an E.164 number.
 18. Thecommunication device of claim 17, wherein the call corresponds to avoice over internet protocol call.
 19. The communication device of claim17, wherein the call is processed by one or more network elements of anIP multimedia subsystem communication system.
 20. The communicationdevice of claim 17, wherein the voicemail redirection request comprisesa voicemail account identifier for selectively identifying one of aplurality of voicemail accounts in the voicemail system.